{"id":564709,"date":"2026-02-04T03:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T03:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/564709\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T03:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T03:00:15","slug":"houston-looks-to-curb-illegal-dumping-with-on-demand-heavy-trash-pickup-and-possible-landfill-partnerships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/564709\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston looks to curb illegal dumping with on-demand heavy trash pickup and possible landfill partnerships"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><strong>HOUSTON<\/strong> \u2013 Illegal dumping remains a persistent problem across Houston, with piles of debris showing up along roadways, near schools, and in neighborhoods citywide.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">According to Houston\u2019s 311 system, there have been 659 reports of illegal dumpsites in the last four weeks, and city leaders acknowledge the issue is far from isolated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cAbsolutely, illegal dumping is an issue in the city of Houston,\u201d said Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, who represents District K. \u201cWe have lots of contractors and residents who feel they can just dump their debris throughout the city instead of taking it to the depository or, if they\u2019re contractors, to the landfill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Many residents say landfill fees are a major reason dumping continues. Viewers repeatedly shared on social media that dumping trash on the side of the road is cheaper and easier than paying landfill costs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">During a recent city council public safety committee meeting, Castex-Tatum asked solid waste if they\u2019ve considered partnering with area landfills.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cContractor can bring that stuff to the landfill because I think that may be cheaper than picking up the illegal dumping across the city,\u201d Castex-Tatum asked during council.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Larius Hassen, director of Houston Solid Waste Management, told KPRC 2 News the idea is being seriously considered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThat\u2019s something we\u2019re definitely looking into,\u201d Hassen said. \u201cWe want the trash to go where it\u2019s supposed to go not on the side of the road.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>New on demand heavy trash pickup program<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">At the same time, the city is rolling out a new on-demand heavy trash pickup program, which leaders hope will reduce illegal dumping by giving residents a clearer, more reliable way to dispose of large items.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><b>Under the new system:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p>Residents can call 311 to submit a service request<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p>Requests are reviewed and scheduled<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p>Residents are notified of their pickup date<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p>Heavy trash is collected within five working days of the scheduled date<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\">\n<p>Each address may request up to four collections per year<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Hassen said the old system, where crews drove every street regardless of whether trash was set out, was unsustainable and led to delays and backlogs. The new model is designed to provide more predictability and accountability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cSo many residents asked for a system where they know when we\u2019re coming,\u201d Hassen said. \u201cThis helps us clean up the city and divert illegal dumping.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The program is scheduled to launch in March.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Houston police and Solid Waste Management are also working together on enforcement. Hassen said the city is issuing warnings before citations, but prosecution can be difficult.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Castex-Tatum said cameras in her district have caught people dumping illegally, including contractors, but cases can take time to move through the legal system.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re really trying to make it easier for people to dispose of debris properly,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">City leaders say nothing is finalized yet when it comes to landfill partnerships, but conversations are ongoing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">For now, residents are encouraged to use one of the city\u2019s six depository stations, schedule heavy trash pickup through 311, and report illegal dumping when they see it.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HOUSTON \u2013 Illegal dumping remains a persistent problem across Houston, with piles of debris showing up along roadways,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":564710,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5130],"tags":[85236,4345,46124,358,3187],"class_list":["post-564709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-85236","tag-houston","tag-illegal-dumping","tag-texas","tag-tx"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116010131909840989","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=564709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/564710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=564709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=564709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=564709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}